| Vietnam News Today (Mar. 25) notable headlines Vietnam, Poland reinforce defense cooperation mechanisms HCM City gives top priority to developing Vietnam-Laos relations: official Singapore promotes cooperation and investment in Vietnam’s semiconductor industry Football promotes Vietnam-Thailand people-to-people exchanges Japan helps improve One Health capacity of border provinces in Vietnam State President receives Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Vietnam, Singapore seek cooperation chances in semiconductor industry Vietnam reports record progress in tuberculosis control Expert taps Singapore’s model for Vietnam’s digital revolution |
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| Photo: VOV |
Vietnam, Poland reinforce defense cooperation mechanisms
Deputy Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien held talks with his Polish counterpart Pawel Bejda, on March 24 in Hanoi as part of the latter's working visit to Vietnam.
During the meeting, Senior Lieutenant General Chien reaffirmed Vietnam’s unwavering foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as its commitment to multilateralizing and diversifying international relations. He also underscored Vietnam’s steadfast national defense policy, which prioritizes resolving disputes through peaceful means in line with international law.
Regarding the East Sea issue, he reiterated Vietnam’s position that relevant parties must adhere to international norms and laws, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He also called for compliance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and an expedited, substantive conclusion of negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), cited VOV.
Discussing bilateral defense cooperation, Senior Lieutenant General Chien expressed satisfaction with the positive progress achieved under the Vietnam-Poland defense cooperation agreement signed in 2010. He highlighted key areas of cooperation, including delegation exchanges, especially high-level visits, training, UN peacekeeping operations, and defense industry.
He affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense is ready to welcome Polish military personnel to study Vietnamese at the Military Science Academy and attend international training courses at the National Defense Academy.
Looking ahead, he proposed that both sides focus on strengthening and refining bilateral defense cooperation frameworks and mechanisms. He also called for continued high-level delegation exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and trust, along with expanded cooperation in training, UN peacekeeping operations, the defense industry, military medicine, and young officer
Chien also thanked Poland for providing scholarships to Vietnamese officers and urged continued Polish support for defense cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) under existing agreements. Additionally, he expressed hope that Poland would advocate for the EU to lift its “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports.
For his part, Deputy Minister Bejda said he is pleased to visit Vietnam in his capacity as Deputy Minister of National Defense and a member of the Polish Parliament, while emphasizing that Vietnam is Poland’s key partner in Southeast Asia. He reaffirmed Poland’s desire to ramp up cooperation with Vietnam not only in economic matters but also in defense, particularly in the areas of defense industry, training, and UN peacekeeping operations.
Bejda voiced his hope that this meeting would further enhance bilateral defense cooperation, delivering practical benefits to both nations.
HCM City gives top priority to developing Vietnam-Laos relations: official
The Party organization, government, and people of Ho Chi Minh City consistently give the highest priority to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, particularly the relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and its twinned Lao localities, said Permanent Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thanh Nghi.
During a visit to the Lao Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on March 24 on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) (March 22, 1955 - 2025), Nghi spoke highly of the significant and comprehensive achievements that the Party, State, and people of Laos have made over the past 70 years.
Under the sound leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people have overcome numerous challenges and achieved great victories of historic significance in their struggle for national liberation, as well as in building, protecting, and developing the country.
The HCM City official affirmed the city’s consistent commitment to fostering strong relationships with localities in Laos. It always strongly supports Laos' comprehensive renewal efforts and is confident that under the leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will reap even greater successes in their reforms as well as in realising the goals set forth in the 11th Party National Congress, according to VNA.
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| Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thanh Nghi (fifth from left) congratulates Lao Consul General in the city Phonesy Bounmixay on the 70th founding anniversary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (March 22, 1955 - 2025). (Photo: VNA) |
Nghi also noted that Ho Chi Minh City will remain committed to deepening cooperation across all fields with Laos.
Lao Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Phonesy Bounmixay expressed his delight at the positive development of the two countries' ties. He also thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, for their effective support for Laos' past struggle for independence and current development efforts.
The Lao diplomat said he appreciated the cooperation results between HCM City and Lao ministries, sectors, and localities.
He expressed his hope that in the coming time, HCM City will expand its cooperation with Laos, particularly in education and human resources training, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, to further solidify the enduring friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
Singapore promotes cooperation and investment in Vietnam’s semiconductor industry
On March 24, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, in collaboration with the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), organized a seminar to introduce the potential and development strategy of Vietnam’s semiconductor industry.
The hybrid event attracted numerous investors and leading enterprises in the field, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, Qualcomm, and Marvell.
In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh emphasized that the Vietnamese Government considers the semiconductor sector a key industry. In 2024, the Prime Minister issued the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam’s Semiconductor Industry until 2030, with a vision toward 2050.
The strategy aims for Vietnam to become a global hub for semiconductor human resources in the 2024-2030 period while establishing capabilities in research, design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing. The industry is expected to generate over US$25 billion in annual revenue, with a value-added contribution of 10-15%.
Ambassador Tran Phuoc Anh noted that Singapore has extensive experience and advanced expertise in the electronics and semiconductor industries, creating favorable conditions for bilateral cooperation. He expressed hope that the seminar would help businesses from both countries better understand each other and develop effective collaboration programs.
SSIA Executive Director Ang Wee Seng stated that Singapore currently accounts for nearly 12% of the global semiconductor market and contributes approximately 8% of the country’s GDP.
He described Vietnam as a promising emerging market in the semiconductor industry, with its market size projected to grow from over US$18 billion in 2024 to more than US$31 billion by 2029.
Vietnam is rapidly becoming a key destination for semiconductor innovation and manufacturing investments, driven by strong government commitments, an improving business environment, and its strategic positioning in the regional supply chain, reported VOV.
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| At the seminar. |
According to SSIA, semiconductors have become a crucial pillar in the industrial development strategies of many countries, with applications spanning biotechnology, artificial intelligence, automation, aerospace, and green construction. Consequently, developing a skilled workforce and enhancing research and development (R&D) cooperation are essential to sustaining industry growth.
Regarding the development orientation for Vietnam’s semiconductor industry, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Singapore Cao Xuan Thang and business representatives at the seminar highlighted key focus areas, including training high-quality technical personnel, advancing research on next-generation electronics integrating specialized and AI chips, building a robust supply chain, augmenting international cooperation to acquire advanced technology, investing in technological infrastructure, and gradually establishing domestic brands and markets.
Cao Xuan Thang also revealed that the Vietnam Trade Office plans to organize a delegation of semiconductor investors and partners from Singapore to visit Vietnam in the near future to explore investment opportunities.
Football promotes Vietnam-Thailand people-to-people exchanges
A U17 women’s football friendly match between Thailand and Vietnam will take place in Hanoi on April 3, contributing to promoting the two countries’ people-to-people diplomacy, heard at a press conference in Bangkok on March 24.
The event, organized by the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association (TVFA), saw the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung and President of the Football Association of Thailand Nualphan Lamsam.
Speaking at the event, TVFA President Sanan Angubolkul said that the upcoming friendly match is another significant step in leveraging sports as a means to develop cooperation between the two countries, cited VNA.
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| President of the Football Association of Thailand Nualphan Lamsam (left) and Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung at the press conference. (Photo: VNA) |
Emphasizing that football is the most popular sport in both Thailand and Vietnam, Nualphan Lamsam, also known to the Vietnamese public as "Madam Pang," believed that the match is part of the plan to develop junior women's football in both countries.
Ambassador Hung emphasised that the match is a meaningful event, gathering young talents from both nations to compete in a spirit of friendship, fair play, and solidarity, and also recognizing the indispensable role of women in society.
He said he hopes that such events will continue to be organized in the coming years, further promoting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand.
Japan helps improve One Health capacity of border provinces in Vietnam
The Government of Japan has announced a grant of US$1.5 million to support Vietnam in achieving Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.8D.
The funding, financed via the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will strengthen One Health, an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
Recognizing that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent, the initiative will increase capacity in the border provinces of Ha Giang, Ha Tinh, Dong Thap, and An Giang.
This will allow health threats to be addressed holistically with experts from multiple departments of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment working together.
The project will raise awareness among cross-border communities about public health risks, case reporting, and self-protection. Approximately two million residents in four provinces will benefit from outreach events, and capacity building for health and animal health officials, led by IOM.
The health of humans, animals, and ecosystems is interconnected, posing risks for spreading infectious diseases, as highlighted by the recent H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in Vietnam and Cambodia, VGP reported.
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| Photo: VGP |
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said: "I am proud to launch the holistic collaboration between experts from Japan and Vietnam, along with several UN agencies including IOM, FAO and WHO. I am confident that we have a significant opportunity to promote the health of people in Vietnam, foster multi-sectoral partnerships, and build a healthier future for all."
The project will form a One Health taskforce with representatives from health, animal, plant, border guard, and environment departments, as well as district authorities in each project province, through comprehensive and multi-sectoral assessments.
It will build capacity for 80 One Health taskforce members and 240 health professionals to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies through simulation exercises on human outbreaks of avian influenza and rabies in the four project provinces and accelerate disease detection utilizing portable diagnostic real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines.
Additionally, the project will strengthen bilateral coordination for public health preparedness and response by facilitating dialogue between Vietnam and neighboring countries, such as Cambodia and Lao PDR, with participation from multi-sectoral actors to discuss outbreak responses and contingency plans along the border.
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